Flexible pipe-joint.



J. S. LEAKE.

FLEXIBLE PIPE JOINT. APPLICATION FI'LED mm. 1913.

Patented Fb.8,1916.

TI": COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII cu WASHINGTON, u. c.

ATTO NEY.

. in which is set forth an embodiment 0 LnAxEjor LOUISVILLE, xnnrpcxr.

, JOHN s.

FLEXIBLE PIPE-JOINT.

Application filed August 1, 1913..

To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, JOI-IN S. Luann, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flexible PipeJoints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention, relates to flexible pipejoints, and an object is the provision of a strong and durable joint that. will be particularly useful as a connection between the piping employed fortransmitting air, steam and water on railway trains.

Another object is the provision ofa flexible, or ball joint for metal pipes employed.

in the transmission of fluids under pressure, that shall be perfectly fluid tight and capable of being flexed a many angles.

A further object is the production of a joint having few parts, that shall be economical of construction and efficient in operation.

With these objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction set. forth, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specificaitiolp,

t e invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to that come within the scope of the claim appended hereunto.

In the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts in the different views; Figure 1, is a central vertical section; Fig, 2, a bottom v1ew of the male, or ball member; Fig. 3, anelevation of the block or shoe.

'Referring to the drawings, the joint is seen to consist of a male member -1-, a female member 2--, a tension block -3-, a tension spring i'', and a bushing 5. The female member is a hollow sphere, and is provided with which a passage 7 leads to the interior of the sphere. The sphere, or ball 1 is provided with an orifice --8 diametrically opposite, and in alinement with the passage 7 and with a plurality of openings 9- Elf-,- ranged concentricallyaround the orifice 8,

the combined area of said openings being at least equal to that of the orifice 8. The female, or bell member 2, envelops the major portion of the male member, and its inner end is provided with a ring 10* that is in sliding contact therewith at a point be yond the center Specification of Letters Patent.

ing box, packingthereof in new of which I Serial No. 782,477.

endwise separation of the two members is lmposs ble. The metal. to metal contactat thls pointd-ispenses with the need ofa-stuffor other device usually employed to secure a tight joint. The block or shoe 3 is provided with a concave face '11 shown inFig. 1 andindicated by ClOttGClillIlBS in 3, that is adapted to bear on the perimeter of the male vmember; it is further provided with a depending stem 12-., and with a passage '13 that normally registers with the orifice 8, in the male member. The female member has a stem 14provided with .a 'bore -15,,

opening into the interior thereof, that is threaded for a portion of its length, adaptlng it for the reception of the bushing 5, the remaining portion being smooth and adapted for the reception of the spring 4. The spring 4 is adapted to encircle the stem 12, of block 3, and is held in position by the bushing '5. and block is to hold the male member in constant contact with the bearing ring 10, of the female member; without the spring the ball would be held against the ring only by the pressure of the flowing fluid, and

when the pressure fell off, or ceased, the ball would be apt to fall away and permit a leak to occur. used for conducting steam great difficulty is experienced attimes by small particles of scale, carried by the steam, working between the bearing faces of the joint. Such joints in railway train service, conveying air or'steam, depend beneath the cars and are almost constantly surrounded by a driving, swirling cloud of dust and grit that finds a lodgment on every portion of the joint and inevitably works between the bearing faces of the joint. ball member inward against the pressure of the spring it will separate the bearing faces of 'the two members and allow thefluid to escape therebetween, the force of which will blow out any extraneous matter that may have worked between said faces.

- Thepassage 7 and bushing 5 are each provided with threaded portions, -l6 and -17 respectively to permit connection with pipes. illustrated, fluid entering through the passage 7 will escape through passage 13, in the block when the male member is flexed the block 3 willpartly. close the orifice '8, the fluid will latentedfeb. s, 1916.

Theoffice of the spring VVhen'joints of this character are usually used for.

Forcing the In the straight away position,

the orifice 8,v 3, and bore 15; 1 10 female member means of the bushing then find its Way. through the openings 9 and between the convolutions of the spring 4 into the bore 15 and out through the connected pipe. The male member is first cast, and finished up complete, it is then arranged to serve as a'core, placed in a mold and the cast integrally around it. The bearing ring 10 being cast against the metal, of part 1, chills forming a hard, durable bearing face. After removal from the mold the bore 15 is tapped out, the block introduced, through the bore, the spring 4: placed in position and secured in place by 5. The joint is then ready for service.

From the, foregoing it Will be seen that I have produced a flexiblejoint that will be economical in construction and durable and efficient in service.

Having thus described my invention so that any one skilled in the art pertaining thereto may make and use the same, I claim A flexible pipe-joint, comprising a hol- 10W spherical male member having an inlet and an outlet, a female member formed integrally around a major portion of the male member, With a bearing ring in contact therewith beyond the center thereof, a stem on the female member having a bore Which NV. B. MUNNELL,

F. H. KAPPA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents- Washington, D. G. 

